QUESTION: One of our employees died on January 31, 2016, and his daughter elected COBRA coverage under our group health plan, effective February 1. We know that the daughter can continue her COBRA coverage for 36 months (through January 31, 2019) if she pays her premiums on time and if no other circumstances permitting early [...]Read Full Article →

Staying on top of frequently changing benefits compliance requirements takes time and vigilance. EBIA can help you succeed. EBIA’s Benefits Compliance Library keeps you up-to-date on the legal requirements, with practical tips, checklists, and sample documents that make your job easier. Here are highlights of the latest enhancements to EBIA’s Cafeteria Plans and Fringe Benefits [...]Read Full Article →

IRS QuickAlerts Bulletin (June 22, 2017) Available at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/bulletins/1a49064 The IRS has announced that changes to its e-Services platform will temporarily affect applications for the transmitter control code (TCC) used to access the Affordable Care Act Information Returns (AIR) Program. The AIR Program is the IRS’s system for accepting electronic filing [...]Read Full Article →

Hancock v Aetna Life Ins. Co., 2017 WL 1710968 (W.D. Wash. 2017) After her claim for benefits under her employer’s long-term disability (LTD) plan was denied, this participant sued for the benefits and for breach of fiduciary duty. Her fiduciary breach claim asserted various defects in the plan’s claim procedures, including an unreasonable delay in [...]Read Full Article →

QUESTION: In past years, we have provided participants with SPDs for our health and welfare plans (which are subject to ERISA) every year. Are we required to provide SPDs that often? ANSWER: Health and welfare plan summary plan descriptions (SPDs) do not have to be routinely provided every year. In general, health and welfare plan [...]Read Full Article →